Drawing tears and protests from many members, United Methodist Church delegates voted Tuesday evening to preserve a ban on LGBTQ inclusion — specifically, LGBTQ clergy induction and same-sex marriages.

The decision evoked despair from local progressive church groups hoping for a different result, while conservative congregations seemed less fazed.

At a special global UMC conference held in St. Louis, 53 percent of delegates voted in favor of maintaining the ban — 438 to 384, according to the South Georgia UMC group.

The vote puts the country's second-largest church denomination in line for a potential split as inclusive and restrictive clergy clashed on the issue.

Since Sunday, delegates had been deliberating proposals, including the One Church plan, which would have allowed individual churches to decide whether they wanted to allow LGBTQ clergy and same-sex marriages.

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JJ Warren of New York embraces Julie Arms Meeks of Atlanta during protests outside the United Methodist Church's 2019 Special Session of the General Conference in St. Louis, Mo., Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019. The United Methodist Church faces a likely surge in defections and defiance after delegates at a crucial conference voted to strengthen bans on same-sex marriage and ordination of LGBT clergy. (AP Photo/Sid Hastings) Sid Hastings, AP

The Rev. K Karen, left, of St. Paul & St. Andrew United Methodist Church in New York joins other protesters in song and prayer outside the United Methodist Church's special session of the general conference in St. Louis, Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019. America's second-largest Protestant denomination faces a likely fracture as delegates at the crucial meeting move to strengthen bans on same-sex marriage and ordination of LGBT clergy. (AP Photo/Sid Hastings) Sid Hastings, AP

Protestors chant during the United Methodist Church's special session of the general conference in St. Louis, Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019. America's second-largest Protestant denomination faces a likely fracture as delegates at the crucial meeting move to strengthen bans on same-sex marriage and ordination of LGBT clergy. (AP Photo/Sid Hastings) Sid Hastings, AP

Adama Brown-Hathasway, left, The Rev. Dr. Jay Williams, both from Boston, and Ric Holladay of Kentucky join in prayer during the 2019 Special Session of the General Conference of The United Methodist Church in St. Louis, Mo., Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019. America's second-largest Protestant denomination faces a likely fracture as delegates at the crucial meeting move to strengthen bans on same-sex marriage and ordination of LGBT clergy. (AP Photo/Sid Hastings) Sid Hastings, AP

Standing in prayer are delegates Kimberly Woods, from left, of Industry, Ill., Sara Isbell, of Bloomington, Ill., and Andy Adams, of Troy, Ill., at the United Methodist Church General Conference Day of Prayer, Saturday, Feb. 23, 2019, at The Dome at America's Center in St. Louis. (Hillary Levin/St. Louis Post-Dispatch via AP) Hillary Levin, AP

Holly Neal, of Crossville, Tenn., sings along during the United Methodist Church General Conference Day of Prayer, Saturday, Feb. 23, 2019, at The Dome at America's Center. (Hillary Levin/St. Louis Post-Dispatch via AP) Hillary Levin, AP

Bishop Mande Muyombo speaks at the United Methodist Church General Conference Day of Prayer, Saturday, Feb. 23, 2019, at The Dome at America's Center in St. Louis. (Hillary Levin/St. Louis Post-Dispatch via AP) Hillary Levin, AP

Alyss Swanson, a transgender United Methodist deacon from San Jose, Calif., speaks with Bishop Samuel Quire, from Liberia, during the General Conference of the United Methodist Church on Monday, Feb. 25, 2019, in St. Louis. Bishop Quire said people can not speak freely about their sexual orientation in Liberia, unlike the way people talk openly in the United States. (J.B. Forbes/St. Louis Post-Dispatch via AP) J.B. Forbes, AP

Joy Butler, an observer from Saint John's United Methodist Church in Austin, Texas, takes a picture of a group of Methodists silently holding signs that gave a timeline of the history of the United Methodist Church during the General Conference of the United Methodist Church on Monday, Feb. 25, 2019, in St. Louis. Spokesperson Carol Scott, who said she is a queer ex-Methodist from St. Paul and St. Andrews United Methodist Church in New York, N.Y. said this was not a protest. She said it was an expression of anger, exclusion and education. "This is the spirit of the building," Scott said. "It's not on the convention floor, but out here." (J.B. Forbes/St. Louis Post-Dispatch via AP) J.B. Forbes, AP

The Rev. Joe Harris, chairman of the legislative committee, oversees the discussions and voting during the General Conference of the United Methodist Church on Monday, Feb. 25, 2019, in St. Louis. The Traditional Plan - with some amendments - won approval in the legislative committee. (J.B. Forbes/St. Louis Post-Dispatch via AP) J.B. Forbes, AP

Sara Isbell joins other delegates at the 2019 Special Session of the General Conference of The United Methodist Church in St. Louis, Mo., Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019. America's second-largest Protestant denomination faces a likely fracture as delegates at the crucial meeting move to strengthen bans on same-sex marriage and ordination of LGBT clergy. (AP Photo/Sid Hastings) Sid Hastings, AP

Leaders from the United Methodist Church confer during the 2019 Special Session of the General Conference of The United Methodist Church in St. Louis, Mo., Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019. America's second-largest Protestant denomination faces a likely fracture as delegates at the crucial meeting move to strengthen bans on same-sex marriage and ordination of LGBT clergy. (AP Photo/Sid Hastings) Sid Hastings, AP

The Rev. Gregory Palmer, west Ohio Bishop, speaks during the 2019 Special Session of the General Conference of The United Methodist Church in St. Louis, Mo., Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019. America's second-largest Protestant denomination faces a likely fracture as delegates at the crucial meeting move to strengthen bans on same-sex marriage and ordination of LGBT clergy. (AP Photo/Sid Hastings) Sid Hastings, AP

Ed Rowe (left), Rebecca Wilson, Robin Hager and Jill Zundel react to the defeat of a proposal that would have allowed LGBT clergy and same-sex marriage within the United Methodist Church. The proposal was defeated at the denomination's 2019 Special Session of the General Conference in St. Louis on Feb. 26, 2019. Sid Hastings/AP

The Rev. Gary Graves, secretary of the General Conference, moderates a discussion during the 2019 Special Session of the General Conference of The United Methodist Church in St. Louis, Mo., Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019. America's second-largest Protestant denomination faces a likely fracture as delegates at the crucial meeting move to strengthen bans on same-sex marriage and ordination of LGBT clergy. (AP Photo/Sid Hastings) Sid Hastings, AP

The Rev. Francisco Neto of Angola (center) leaves a hospitality room after being given winter clothing upon arrival Thursday, Feb. 21, 2019, at St. Louis Lambert International Airport. Neto is one of many United Methodists in town to attend a special session to address homosexuality in the church. (Laurie Skrivan/St. Louis Post-Dispatch via AP) Laurie Skrivan, AP

Chantel Corrie, right, gives a thumbs up to The Rev. Manuel Andre of Angola after he and other delegates from African nations selected winter clothing in a hospitality room upon arrival Thursday, Feb. 21, 2019, at St. Louis Lambert International Airport. Neto is one of many United Methodists in town to attend a special session to address homosexuality in the church. (Laurie Skrivan/St. Louis Post-Dispatch via AP) Laurie Skrivan, AP

Methodist convention volunteer Kim Mertz of Chesterfield walks with The Rev. Quelende Andriano, center, and Rev. Dr. Elvira Cazombo, both of Angola, to the check-in table, as she welcomes delegates from African nations upon arrival Thursday, Feb. 21, 2019, at St. Louis Lambert International Airport. Andriano and Cazombo are among United Methodists in town to attend a special session to address homosexuality in the church. (Laurie Skrivan/St. Louis Post-Dispatch via AP) Laurie Skrivan, AP

The Rev. Joe Harris, chair of the single legislative committee of the 2019 special session of the United Methodist Church General Conference, moderates questions from delegates Feb. 25, 2019. In the background is the Rev. Betty Musau from North Katanga, vice chair. Kathleen Barry/UMNS

Mark Thompson from the Lansing Central United Methodist Church in the Michigan Conference joins other supporters of the Simple Plan by holding banners and singing before the afternoon session at the 2019 Special Session of the United Methodist General Conference. The demonstration was held inside the Dome of America's Center in St. Louis on Feb. 24. KAHTLEEN BARRY/UNITED METHODIST NEWS SERVICE

Tennessee Conference delegate Holly Neal (front) raises her arms in praise during a day of prayer at the 2019 United Methodist General Conference in St. Louis. She is joined by Tennessee delegates the Revs. Stephen Handy (left) and Jacob Armstrong (standing). Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS

However, the Traditionalist Plan, which won the most votes, reaffirmed a strict linguistic view of the Methodists' Book of Discipline that bars LGBTQ clergy and same-sex marriage.

A day after the vote, a sign outside the Florida State University and Tallahassee Community College UMC Wesley Foundation chapter read, "The church is not church without our LGBTQIA+ members." Below it hung a rainbow flag.

Kandace Brooks, pastor at the local St. Paul's United Methodist Church, said the vote left her in "profound grief."

"We are clearly heartbroken," said Brooks. "There's no other way to say it. I'm just devastated — the majority of my church is devastated."

Friday, she and other clergy and members will discuss next steps in an online meeting with Florida UMC Bishop Ken Carter.

"I'll be honest, I've entertained all kinds of questions," Brooks said. "I struggle with the question: Can I stay in a church — can I be a part of a church that continues these exclusionary practices?"

About 10 miles away in west Tallahassee, members of Bethel United Methodist Church supported the Traditionalist approach.

A local Evangelical-identifying pastor, Ralph Wrightstone said he respects and loves his gay members. But on performing a same-sex marriage, he said, "I can't condone something that God's word teaches is not compatible with Christian teaching."

"It's always been our tradition that we love the sinner but we hate the sin," Wrightstone said. "We love them, we want to minister to them, but we have to follow church law, church discipline."

Deer Lake United Methodist Church's Pastor Jim Govatos did not want to comment on behalf of his congregation, but said he's been holding dialogues to discuss the issue among members.

"Part of my leadership is to help people talk about it as honestly as we can," he said, adding that he is "trying to promote an open and honest dialogue of people of different perspectives."

Matt Dailey, a local minister at Good Samaritan United Methodist Church and a lay delegate for the Florida UMC conference, said the vote disheartened him.

"I am disappointed. I thought that we as the church had gone farther along than
this," he said. "The hope is that with younger voices, more progressive voices, we can continue to raise this issue. It's important because the defeat of the One Church Plan or the Connectional Plan is not the end. It's the end for this legislative session, but not the next one."

He hopes future Methodist leaders elect a "diverse group of young delegates with a passion for the church and its place in the world," he said.

But he doesn't plan to leave the UMC.

"The best thing that I can do," he added, "is to stay and continue to change at the inside."